I’m A Celebrity co-host Ant McPartlin’s sister-in-law has died of cancer aged just 29

There’s sad news today as it’s been reported that I’m A Celebrity co-host Ant McPartlin and his family are in mourning after his sister in law, Sally Ann Thomson, died just a couple of weeks before Christmas.

The mum of one, who was aged just 29, died in a hospice while Ant was still in Australia with his presenting partner Dec Donnelly. He was unable to fly back home for her funeral, but his mum Christine – who took care of Sally Ann’s five year old son while she was in the hospice – represented him at the funeral.

The Mirror reports, “Sally Ann’s mum Dawn, 53, said yesterday the star was really close to her -daughter and adores little Owen.”

She added, “Ant’s mum has been absolutely brilliant throughout it all. All this has brought our families closer together. I can’t thank her enough.

“Ant is brilliant with Owen. He came around to our house on Owen’s birthday and Sally Ann and Owen had been down to London to see him.

“He sent me a lovely sympathy card when Sally Ann passed away and he used to send her get-well cards when she found out she had cancer.”

And after describing Christine as “a pillar of strength,” Dawn continued, “Sally Ann and Owen lived with me until she got really poorly.

“Then, for a couple of months before Sally Ann died, Owen stayed with Christine and David.

“When Sally Ann went into the Marie Curie centre, I was there every day with her.

“Christine and David took over the care of Owen because I couldn’t even look after myself.

“They were amazing. I couldn’t have got through it without their help and support.

“They are a really caring and nice family. Both of our families are very close because of Owen and all this has brought us closer together.

“They’re part of our family now.”

Brave Sally Ann was first diagnosed as having a rare form of ovarian cancer in May 2011, but after “dozens” of courses of chemotherapy, she was told there was nothing more doctors could do for her.

Dawn said, “She spent the last few weeks of her life buying 18th and 21st birthday presents for Owen. She even planned her own funeral.

“Her type of cancer was so rare that her doctor had only ever seen one other case in the past 10 years.”

Lynn is an editor and writer here at Unreality TV and is a trained psychotherapist and the author of two books. She's addicted to soaps, period drama and reality TV shows such as X Factor, Big Brother, BGT and I'm A Celeb.